Diversity Committee Statement on Nationwide Attacks against DEIA Programs and Initiatives

The Diversity Committee of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) recognizes that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs and initiatives are essential to our work as archivists. Such programs and initiatives have been under reenergized, politically motivated attack across the United States since Inauguration Day, when the Executive Order, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” was issued by the White House. This was followed by “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” the next day and “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” on March 27. These Orders misrepresent and state falsehoods regarding DEIA and efforts by American archives and museums to provide a comprehensive history of the United States. The White House is seeking to carry out these Orders through federal funding, with layoffs and grant terminations at related federal agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the threat or actual freezing of federal grants and contracts with individual universities. These Orders and actions are designed to have a chilling effect on our work with primary sources and the diverse communities that we serve.

In times of crisis, it is important to reflect on SAA’s Core Values and Code of Ethics to help ground us and determine a course of action. In framing our Core Values, SAA states:

“...historical records held within archives often afford the most power to those who create and control the archive itself. In a democratic society, such power should benefit each individual equally. Hence, archivists should ensure that their professional guidelines empower them to equitably provide labor and resources in service of all members of society.”

Diversity is suffused throughout these two documents. 

“Building collections that reflect the diversity of humanity is key to preserving a historical record that encompasses the stories of all peoples, instead of just those who wield enough power and influence to ensure their lives are documented.”

Archivists and cultural heritage workers across the country are being negatively impacted by this culture of fear, including in the private sector, where we have seen anticipatory compliance and appeasement. We are dealing with the loss of funding/employment, the freedom to collect and describe material and engage in programming that features historically underrepresented communities, the freedom to continue existing or form new partnerships with local stakeholders that are now being targeted by some level of government, and the right to freedom of speech without fear of repercussion (including voicing disagreement with anti-DEIA policies).

We also recognize that archivists that identify as being from diverse communities themselves are experiencing this on a personal level, including through legislation that seeks to erase their existence and history and prevent their full participation in society. We as a country and a profession are facing a crisis regarding memory–how and what we document, preserve, and provide access to, and how we relate to each other as human beings.

Individual archivists alone should not be responsible for fighting misinformation or be required to work counter to our profession’s values and ethics. Leaders of professional associations and those of us in states that continue to encourage inclusive and equitable work need to shoulder this burden and provide active allyship. The solution to collective attacks and uncertainty must be collective action and solidarity. We must provide mutual aid to one another and leverage our individual contributions to meet this moment. The Diversity Committee is planning to use its Diversity Forum at the upcoming Annual Meeting to discuss these topics.

Additionally, SAA should align itself with other related professional associations that are standing up to misinformation. We encourage all members to learn how to effectively advocate for our work by taking such steps as attending such offerings as the recent "Raising Your Voice for Archives" event hosted by SAA. We encourage SAA to continue to provide guidance like this on how we can most effectively advocate for our profession and the communities we serve. 

Issuing statements is important, but it is not enough. The Diversity Committee commits to finding ways to take action that are not only sustainable and flexible, but that also take into account that many in power are actively hostile to our professional values. We in the Diversity Committee are as vulnerable and uncertain as any of us, but we hope to collectively identify a  way forward, and ask that members reach out to us with ideas, questions, or concerns. In unison we will find a way through these challenging times.